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| Jordan pilot purportedly interviewed by Islamic State | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| BEIRUT – Islamic State has released what it claims is an interview with the Jordanian pilot who was captured by the militant group after his plane went down in Syria last week. | BEIRUT – Islamic State has released what it claims is an interview with the Jordanian pilot who was captured by the militant group after his plane went down in Syria last week. |
| Published in the group’s English-language magazine, the interview, which could not be independently verified, quotes 26-year-old Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh as saying that his F-16 fighter jet was downed by a “heat-seeking missile.” | Published in the group’s English-language magazine, the interview, which could not be independently verified, quotes 26-year-old Mu’ath al-Kaseasbeh as saying that his F-16 fighter jet was downed by a “heat-seeking missile.” |
| Kaseasbeh is the first foreign pilot captured from the U.S.-led coalition targeting the group with airstrikes at its strongholds in Syria and Iraq. | Kaseasbeh is the first foreign pilot captured from the U.S.-led coalition targeting the group with airstrikes at its strongholds in Syria and Iraq. |
| Kaseasbeh, a first lieutenant in Jordan’s air force, was taken by Islamic State on Wednesday near the eastern Syrian city of Raqqa, which is the radical group’s de facto capital. | Kaseasbeh, a first lieutenant in Jordan’s air force, was taken by Islamic State on Wednesday near the eastern Syrian city of Raqqa, which is the radical group’s de facto capital. |
| The United States denies that his plane was shot down, although Jordanian officials have issued contradictory statements on the cause of the incident. | The United States denies that his plane was shot down, although Jordanian officials have issued contradictory statements on the cause of the incident. |
| “My plane was struck by a heat-seeking missile. I heard and felt its hit,” Kaseasbeh is quoted as saying, adding that he was forced to eject after the missile damaged his engine and caused his aircraft to “deviate from its normal flight path.” | “My plane was struck by a heat-seeking missile. I heard and felt its hit,” Kaseasbeh is quoted as saying, adding that he was forced to eject after the missile damaged his engine and caused his aircraft to “deviate from its normal flight path.” |
| Islamic State has coerced captives to participate in the group’s propaganda activities, and it was unclear whether Kaseasbeh was forced by the militants to issue the comments, or whether he made them at all. The group has beheaded two U.S. nationals and two Britons, and it has released macabre videos showing the execution of scores of Iraqi and Syrian soldiers. | Islamic State has coerced captives to participate in the group’s propaganda activities, and it was unclear whether Kaseasbeh was forced by the militants to issue the comments, or whether he made them at all. The group has beheaded two U.S. nationals and two Britons, and it has released macabre videos showing the execution of scores of Iraqi and Syrian soldiers. |
| The Kaseasbeh interview came with photographs of Kaseasbeh, including one of him wearing an orange jumpsuit and another showing him with a group of apparent airmen who are being greeted by King Abdullah, Jordan’s ruler. | The Kaseasbeh interview came with photographs of Kaseasbeh, including one of him wearing an orange jumpsuit and another showing him with a group of apparent airmen who are being greeted by King Abdullah, Jordan’s ruler. |
| In a statement issued last week, the lower house of Jordan’s parliament warned the Islamic State of “grave consequences” if Kaseasbeh is harmed. | In a statement issued last week, the lower house of Jordan’s parliament warned the Islamic State of “grave consequences” if Kaseasbeh is harmed. |
| In a television interview last week, his father pleaded for mercy, asking Islamic State to treat his son as a “guest.” " | In a television interview last week, his father pleaded for mercy, asking Islamic State to treat his son as a “guest.” " |
| “He is a guest among brothers of ours in Syria Islamic State,” the father, Saif al-Kasaesbeh, said during the interview. | “He is a guest among brothers of ours in Syria Islamic State,” the father, Saif al-Kasaesbeh, said during the interview. |
| Jordan’s government spokesman, Mohammad al-Momani, was not immediately available for comment. | Jordan’s government spokesman, Mohammad al-Momani, was not immediately available for comment. |
| In the Islamic State interview, which is in question-and-answer form, the group appears to taunt Kaseasbeh over his father’s plea. It also asks the captured pilot what he thinks the group will do to him, in which he responds: “They will kill me.” | In the Islamic State interview, which is in question-and-answer form, the group appears to taunt Kaseasbeh over his father’s plea. It also asks the captured pilot what he thinks the group will do to him, in which he responds: “They will kill me.” |
| In the interview, Kaseasbeh purportedly discusses the role in the coalition played by Arab states and the United States. The coalition, which also includes European countries, began launching airstrikes against Islamic State in September. | In the interview, Kaseasbeh purportedly discusses the role in the coalition played by Arab states and the United States. The coalition, which also includes European countries, began launching airstrikes against Islamic State in September. |
| His plane came down during a mission to “sweep” the area of anti-aircraft weaponry, he is quoted as saying, adding that there also were warplanes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Morocco. | His plane came down during a mission to “sweep” the area of anti-aircraft weaponry, he is quoted as saying, adding that there also were warplanes from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Morocco. |
| Morocco has reportedly sent aircraft to aid the coalition, although the country's role in carrying out airstrikes is unclear. | Morocco has reportedly sent aircraft to aid the coalition, although the country's role in carrying out airstrikes is unclear. |
| Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the known Arab members of the coalition involved in carrying out airstrikes. They only target Islamic State in Syria. | Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are the known Arab members of the coalition involved in carrying out airstrikes. They only target Islamic State in Syria. |
| Qatar plays a logistical role. | Qatar plays a logistical role. |
| In its newly released publication, Islamic State showed pictures of an American oil worker who militants in Egypt claimed in recent weeks to have killed. There is also praise for an attack carried out this month by a man of Iranian origin in Sydney, Australia. The ensuing hostage crisis left three people dead, including the assailant. | In its newly released publication, Islamic State showed pictures of an American oil worker who militants in Egypt claimed in recent weeks to have killed. There is also praise for an attack carried out this month by a man of Iranian origin in Sydney, Australia. The ensuing hostage crisis left three people dead, including the assailant. |